Meaning & use
jazz
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Meanings
noununcountable
A style of music with African American roots, featuring improvisation and syncopated rhythms.
Grammar: Uncountable; do not use 'a' or plural 'jazzes' unless referring to types (e.g., 'different jazzes').
Patterns
- play jazz
- listen to jazz
- jazz music
My grandfather loves listening to jazz from the 1950s.
The band played jazz all night at the club.
She studies jazz piano at the conservatory.
noununcountable
A style of dance performed to jazz music, often energetic and theatrical.
Grammar: Uncountable; often used in phrases like 'jazz dance' or 'jazz class'.
Patterns
- dance jazz
- jazz class
She teaches jazz at the local dance studio.
He performed a lively jazz routine in the competition.
Common combinations
- jazz music
- The café plays soft jazz music in the background.
- jazz band
- He plays trumpet in a jazz band.
- jazz festival
- We went to the New Orleans Jazz Festival last spring.
- free jazz
- Free jazz can be difficult for new listeners to appreciate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bebop
- A specific style of jazz with fast tempos and complex harmonies; 'jazz' is the broader category.
Word family
- jazzy adjective
- Having a style similar to jazz, or lively and colorful.
- jazzer noun
- A jazz musician or enthusiast (informal).
Commonly confused: jazz or jass?
jazz vs jass
An archaic spelling of 'jazz'; not used today.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'jazz' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Jazz' is an uncountable noun, so it does not take 'a' or a plural form. It is also not used as a verb meaning 'like' in this context. Only 'listens to jazz' is correct.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “jazz”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.